Collar-blocking means



Sept. 12, 1939. f 1w. STEELE coLLAR-BLocxING MEANS` 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 1, 1937 Sept. 12, 1939.

J. W. STEELE COLLAR-BLOCKING MENS Filed Junel, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2- A TTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 12, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

The present invention relates to collar blocking means for use in garment finishing operations, and the primary object in view is to devise an efficient blocking means of this character which is adapted for finishing operations and designed to form and set the collar or neckband portion of a garment, such as a shirt, in a shape or contour approaching as nearly as possible the shape in which the collar is to be worn, or in case of laundry operations to restore such natural or ideal shape in accordance with the pattern in which it was originally manufactured.

Accordingly, I have devised a collar blocking structure which is conveniently operated for expanding and contracting action within the co1- llar and of suitable form for use with various sizes of collars; and for carrying out the function of properly shaping the collar the pattern of the device is of an approximately heart-shaped design and is so constructed as to produce a slope in the rear'portion of the collar (in contrast to a straight or vertically upright form) for attaining the correct angle of this portion of thecollar as well as promoting the most ecient finishing operation of the adjoining'portions of the garment without either distorting the collar or wrinkling the yoke and bosom portions of the garment, thereby effecting gains also in the time of the operator doing the finishing work.

It is further sought to provide a'device suitable yfor use on any common form of finishing table, and which will interfere in no way with any of the usual operations required in connection with such work.

Other minor objects of `the invention will appear in the course of the detailed specification.

With the foregoing general objects in View, the invention will now be described by reference to the accompanying drawings showing practical forms of construction for embodying the proposed improvements, after which those features and combinations deemed to be novel and patentable will be particularly set forth and claimed.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a plan View of a garment finishing board provided with a collar blocking device constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a similar view, partly broken away and on a larger scale; p Figure 3 is a similar view showing the parts in a different position of adjustment; Y

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the device;

Figure 5 is a sectional view, representing ak (CL 22S-52.1)

section taken on the line 5--5 of Figure 2, on a still larger scale;

Figures 6, 7 and 8 are views similar to Figures 2, 3 and 4, respectively but illustrating a modified form of construction; and

Figure 9 is a sectional View, representing a section` taken on the line 9 9 of Figure 6, with dotted lines representing the collar blocking device in elevated position..

'Ihe present application relates to garment finishing operations of the same general character as those described in my pending application Serial No. 35,713 filed August 1'2, 1935, and seeks to devise further improvements along the same line of collar forming and nishing.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, and more particularly Figures 1 to 5, these views illustrate the device in its preferred form, and in operative position with relation to a garment finishing board Ill faced with suitable padding I I to provide an ironing surface for the finishing of garments, such as a shirt I2, as shown in Figure 1.

To the rear edge of the board I is attached a bracket member I4 provided with a hinge axis I for a plate member I6, one end of which carries a suitable counterweight I'l for balancing the operative parts of the device carried by the other end of the said plate I6. To the forward end of said plate I6 is attached a front collar block section I8 shaped to conform approximately to the meeting portions of a neckband or collar 20 and also formed with a rearwardly projecting fin or extension 22 separatingtwo other i collar block sections 24, which are movably mounted as hereinafter explained. The` upper face of the block section I8 and its extension 22 is provided with a correspondingly shaped plate 25, and the block sections 24 are similarly provided with top plates 26, both of which as well as the plate 25 project somewhat beyond the outer faces of the corresponding block sections or above the upper edges of the collar 20 for operating facility, as will be hereinafter referred to.

To the top of each of the block sections 24 is secured a T-block 28, and these blocks 28 *are slidingly engaged with transverse slots 30 formed in a plate 32 which in turn is mounted for forward and backward movement by being formed with a slot 33 slidingly engaging a guide rib 34 mounted on the upper face of the plate 25.

A spacer bar 3B is interposed between said rib 34 and the plate I6 for facilitating free movement of both the plate 32 and the blocks 28, the

inner ends of which are provided with pins or studs 31 slidingly engaged with angularly arranged slots 39 formed in the plate l5 at opposite sides of center.

The rear margin of the sliding plate 32 carries a pin or stud d@ projecting upward through a longitudinal slot 42 in the plate I6 for engagement with a cam groove 43 formed in the under face of a top disk 45 which is rotatably mounted on a central pivot or screw 46. For rotating said disk 45 a handle member 48 is connected to the upper end of said screw 45 and is further provided with a longitudinal slot slidingly engaging said screw and also another screw stud 52 mounted near the outer margin of the disk for permitting a lengthwise adjusting movement' vof said handle for reasons hereinafter explained..

By referring to Figure 5 it will be noted that the nut 53 cooperating with said screw 4S is suitably shouldered, asis also the screw 54 connecting the plates I6 and 25, thus maintaining properly spaced relation of the parts as required for the adjusting movements of the movable elements of the structure.

The front face of the front collar block section I8 is formed with an upright groove or channel 56, in the upper end of which is provided a bracket element 58, carrying a pivot 59 for the mounting of a'garlnent or collar gripping finger 62, the free end of which projects down into the lower portion of the groove r channel 55, as represented in Figure 5.

A plunger 64 actuated by a spring 65 is mounted adjacent to the pivot 60 and formed with converging operative faces 66 for engagement with the adjacent margin of the nger 62 for a cam action with reference to its pivot 60, whereby said linger B2 may be maintained in either raised or collar gripping position, as required. Said finger 52 may be provided with a short extension 52 as an aid for manipulating the same into operative position, whereas the mainlower portion projecting into the channel 56 affords a convenient means both for withdrawing the finger from gripping position as well as raising the whole collar block device into inoperative position as represented by the dotted lines in Figure 4.

The collar block sections i8 and 22 are shaped in accordance with thenatural shape of the inner neck engaging face of a collar as originally made,

the outer faces of the front section I8 accordingly sloping downwardly and outwardly from the top ofthe collar, and the outer faces of the rear sections 22 being more nearly vertical at the widest portion of the device but sloping inwardlyY in conformity with the natural slope of the back of the collar as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5,-the combined shape of the block sections approaching that of a heart shape, as indicated in Figures 2 and 3.

In the operation of the device, the same is initially in inoperative position, i. e., tilted back upon `the hinge or pivot i5 as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 4, and the parts being contracted into the position shown in Figures 2, 4 and 5.

The garment or shirt l2 is placed upon the ironing board as illustrated in Figure 1, with the neckband or collar in position to receive the collar blocking means, which is then swung forward to bring the device Within the neckband or collar 20. The projecting edges of the plate 25 and 26 provide limiting guides for facilitating the proper positioning of the collar around the block structure. The handle 43 is then operated from the initial position shown in Figure 2 to the left,

or into the position indicated in Figures 1 and 3, or to whatever extent is necessary to fully expand the device within the neckband or collar. This operation of the handle 48 rotates the disk 45, whereby the cam stud 40 is actuated by the cam groove 43 to impart rearward movement to the plate 32, which in turn by means of the combined action of the slots 30 in said plate and the angularly arranged slots 38 in the plate I6 engaging the studs 3l, actuates the block sections 22 both outwardly and rearwardly into more or less extended relation according to the size of the collar as represented in Figures 1 and 3.

- -gThe spring actuated linger device 82 is previously'snapped down into the position shown in `Figures 4 and 5, for gripping engagement with the meeting ends of the neckband or collar, which are thereby held securely in position without other fastening means.

The operator can then proceed with the finishing operation, with the collar thus formed and set in the ideal shape according to its original vmanufacture and in the way therefore in which it should be worn, the parts of the block structure remaining substantially locked in any set or adjusted position because of the cam feature of the adjusting means.

The method of mounting the handle 48 so as to slide endwise allows it a convenient endwise movement, and in the event of its interfering with the movements of the operator, as in the position shown in'Figure 3, an endwise push on the handle will move it entirely away from the front of the device.

When'the collar is blocked and set in this many ner, in the correct or natural way and in accordance with the original manufacture of the garment, it will be apparent that by properly forming the back of the collar as well as its front portion, the collar is not placed under any undue tension (as where it is forced and set into a round and perfectly straight and upright position); hence the collar is not distorted and this correct positioning of the collar causes the rest of theyoke portion of the shirt to fall naturally along proper lines, without fullness at any point or the formation of wrinkles. In fastening the ends of the neckband or collar accurately by means of the gripping finger 62, the operator thereby centers the shirt so that the yoke or shoulder portions are the same width, which automatically causes the remainder of the shirt to fall along the right lines so as to fold properly and'result in straight and even folds instead of appearing lop-sided.

After the collar finishing operation, the blocking device is contracted by throwing the handle 48 in the opposite direction cr back to original position (as shown in Figure 2), when the device may be conveniently raised by the operator lifting it by means of the finger 62 and simultaneously operating said finger to release the front of the vpollar while swinging the device upon the pivot I5 back into the position represented by the dotted lines in Figure 4.

The collar 20 is thus `left in correctly finished condition, ready for insertion of a suitable collar protector (as, for example, a cardboard device of the character illustrated in Patent yNo. 1,879,918 issued September 27, 1932) which will maintain the collar in its proper shape up to the time it is to be worn.

In Figures 6 to 9 I have illustrated a modified form of the construction which the collar block sections, while of the same form and design as already described, have their; expanding or adjusting movements 4'effected infa somewhat diierent manner. Asshown, the front block section I8 and its 1in or extension 22 and top plateV 25 are secured by bolts V1Il to the forward edge of a plateV 12, while the Arear collar Vblock sections 24 and their top plates 26 and T-blocks 28 are slidingly engaged with slots 30 in afplate 14, the rear end of which plate 14 is hinged at I5 to an upright bracket I4' attached to the ironing board I8. The blocks 28 are also provided with studs 31Islidingly engaged with the 'angularly arranged slots 38' in said plate 12.

This plate 12 is provided with a cam member 15 pivoted to the plate at 16 and formed with an operating handle 11 whereby said cam member is operatively engaged with a stud 18 carried by the plate 14 for actuating the plate 12 forwardly as illustrated in Figures 7 and 8. This not only moves the collar block section I8 forwardly but also moves the block sections 24 both outwardly as illustrated in Figure 7, due to the cam action of the slots 38 upon the studs 31.

The plate 14 is formed with a slot 88 for slidingly engaging the upper end of one of the screws 10, and the rear end of the plate 12 also carries a counterweight 82 for balancing the block structure when swung rearwardly into inoperative position, upon the pivot I5', as illustrated in Figure 9. f

A modified form of the nger gripping device is also shown in these views, the same comprising a nger gripping member 62 projecting into a groove 56 in the front block section I8 and pivoted at 6U at the forward edge of the plate 25, said finger being actuated by a coil spring 65' seated in a recess 85 in the. upper portion of the block section I8. As in the preferred construction, the finger member 62 provides a convenient handle element, on being raised to release the collar ends as indicated in Figure 9, for4 thereafter lifting and swinging the collar blocking means rearwardly into inoperative position as represented by the dotted lines in said view.

It will be quite apparent that while the assembly of elements in the modied form of the device varies somewhat from that of the preferred form, the operation is in all essential respects similar to that already described with reference to said preferred form of construction, the principal difference being that in the modified form a movement is imparted to the front collar block section I8 as well as to the rear block sections 24, which additional degree of expansion from front to rear may be desirable in connection with some styles of garments. The predominant result of the operation is, however, the same as regards the blocking and setting the collar in its normal and most natural relation to the garment in accordance with the original pattern of its manufacture, which I deem to be a most important and outstanding feature of the present invention.

It is further apparent that a device having the construction of either of the forms illustrated herein is adaptable for convenient use and efficient operation in connection with garment finishing apparatus of the type illustrated in my Patent No. 2,005,960 dated June 25, 1935; and also that suitable heating means may also be incorporated as a part of the block structure in substantially the same manner as illustrated in my copending application No. 35,713, hereinbefore referred to.

It will therefore be seen that I have provided a practicalandieflicientmeans for carrying out the essential objects of the present featuresv of improvement, as described in the foregoing', and while `I have illustrated-and.described what I now regard yas the: most satisfactory` forms .of embodiment'of the improvements, for the practice of the inventionI desire to be understood as reserving the right to make such changes'and modiflcationsas may` fairly fall'within'the spirit and scope of the appendedclaims. f

What I claim and desire to secure by, Letters Patentfis: 1. Collar blocking means comprising, a plurality of'. expanding block sections for the interior of the collar or neckband of a garment, and including a front section for the front collar portion and a pair of block sections movable laterally and rearwardly for Vengagement with the opposite rear portions of the collar, the rear outer faces of said latter sections having a slope for- L ward from top to bottom of said sections.

2. Collar blocking means comprising, a plurality of expanding block sections for the interior of the collar or neckband of a garment, and including a front section for the front collar portion and a pair of block sections movable laterally and rearwardly for engagement with the opposite rear portions of the collar, said latter sections being larger at top than bottom to provide rear faces sloping toward the front, and means for simultaneously actuating said movable sections rearwardly and outwardly into engagement with the interior of the collar.

3. A collar blocking structure comprising, a plurality of relatively movable block sections for the interior of the collar or neckband of the garment, the top portions of said block sections being provided with flange edges projecting outward beyond the outer faces of the sections, and means for simultaneously actuating said sections to expand or contract the same within the collar.

4. A collar blocking structure comprising,` a plurality of relatively movable block sections for the interior of. the collar or neckband of the garment, the rear outer faces of the rear block sections sloping from top to bottom of said sections toward the interior of the block structure, the middle of the front block section being formed with an upwardly extending groove in symmetrical relation to the meeting portions of the collar, a gripping device in operative relation to said groove for frictionally securing the meeting portions of the collar to the front block section, and means for actuating said block sections for either expanding or contracting the same within the collar.

5. Collar blocking means comprising a plurality of relatively movable block sections for the interior of the collar or neckband of the garment, a counterweighted arm supporting said block sections for movement into and out of collar blocking relation to the garment, the middle of the front block section being formed with an upwardly extending groove in symmetrical relation to the meeting portions of the collar, means for actuating said block sections for eX- panding or contracting the same Within the co1- lar, and a gripping device in operative relation to said groove for frictionally securing the meeting portions of the collar at said groove and affording means for swinging said arm upwardly and rearwardly to Withdraw the block sections from the collar.

6. A collar blocking structure comprising, a plurality of relatively movable front and rear prising, a plurality of block sections for the interior of the collar and including a relatively fixed front block section and a pair of rear block sections for the opposite rear portions of the collar, and cam means including pin and slot connections between said means and the rear block sections for producing relative expanding and contracting movements of the sections Within the collar, the rear outer faces of said rear block sections sloping from top to bottom toward 10 the interior of the block structure.

JAMES W. STEELE. 

